Public transport goes beyond an issue of sustainability and environmental concern. It is a social justice issue. Without good public transport people struggle with getting jobs and getting where they need to go. Transport disadvantage describes difficulties with accessing transport. Transport poverty occurs when households are spending more money on transport than they can afford. 4% of all Australians report having difficulty getting to places they need to go. People most likely to experience transport poverty and disadvantage are: low-income people, the unemployed, beneficiaries, youth, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, outer-urban dwellers, and ethnic minorities.

Victoria’s 2018 state election has seen congestion as a top issue. So how do the parties transport commitments stack up?

Melbourne is seeing huge population growth straining a city built for many less. The current Labor state government won in 2014 on the back of scrapping a megaroad and some sorely-needed public transport projects. Over the past 4 years, the government has set the ball rolling with important public transport initiatives. But we've also see them switch gears to kick off some of the biggest dirtiest mega roads in our states history.

What will happen for the next 4 years based on what we’ve heard so far?

Today Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a game-changing rail plan for Melbourne's suburbs, linking all major rail lines via an underground loop. We are excited to see big plans for ramping up investment in transport.

It consists of an expanded 12-lane West Gate Freeway toll way, short tunnel, 3 giant bridges across the Maribyrnong River, then an 18-lane double-decker Footscray Road leading to spaghetti interchanges and flyovers in the city and West Melbourne.

The North-East Link is a proposed 26km road project connecting the Metropolitan Ring Road in Greensborough with the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen, along with upgrades from Hoddle Street to Springvale Road, including widening lanes and dedicated bus lanes.

Construction is set to begin in 2019/2020 with estimated completion in 2027. It is estimated to cost between $10-$16Bn, making it the most expensive Victorian road project in history.

A project of The Sustainable Cities Collective of Friends of the Earth Melbourne

Partnering groups:

We acknowledge that we meet and work on the land of the Wurundjeri people and that sovereignty of the land of the Kulin Nation were never ceded. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge the pivotal role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within the Australian community.